Despicable me

"Despicable me" is a story of a mad scientist out to steal the moon.

It looks like your typical good guy-bad guy story with a twist, "Not every bad guy is a bad guy."  Its comedic aspects cater more to adults rather than children.  But its script can pass as a typical Hollywood movie with a happy ending.  But something in script lacks luster.

"Despicable me" adheres to recognizing the dignity of every human being.  Even the bad has a story to tell; and of course he can change and is capable of loving others.  This is recommended for the whole family.

Rating: 3/5

Splice

Splice is a film about scientists going overboard to combine other cells in a human DNA.

For a science fiction film, this could be an eye-opener to the unimaginable consequences of an ethically irresponsible human research.  Splice is also supremely apocalyptic as it signals the end of all human rationality.

It may also be a realistic movie in terms of realizing the consequences of an immoral action and decision.  In this world, there is no redemption, only destruction of the human sensibility.  Worse for humankind, there's nobody to be blamed for this folly than man himself.  May we be awakened against tampering with the the natural world and what man can ethically do to serve it, not tamper with it.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Vampires suck

Vampires suck is a spoof of the Original Twilight saga of a girl who falls desperately in love with a vampire.

Using the genre of comedy, the film never ceases to smack the original film to the delight of the audience, indeed, to trivialize overpowering vampire movies and to detach us from being glued to the filmmakers' maneuverings.  Twilight, just enjoy, it's just a movie!

In a comedic setting, the more the audience should stay awake for any undertones that may also trivialize sensitive issues as sexuality and immorality.  Other than that, take this film for what it is: a rib tickler!

Rating: 3/5

Cats and dogs: the revenge of Kitty Galore

Cats and dogs: the revenge of Kitty Galore is a digitally animated film about cats and dogs banding together to thwart Kitty Galore's plan to rule the world.

In the world of animation: there's no end to surprises, tricks, and entertainment.  Fantasy is wild.  Yet, underneath it is the world of human ingenuity raring to express itself to everyone, children and adults alike.  Yup, the children are entertained in this wholesome action movie.

Cats and dogs movie also explores the world of unity amidst differences; may it be races, creed, or biological classifications as cats and dogs!  We can be united to fight a common enemy lingering, i.e. the selfish character.  Good still triumphs over evil in a definitive way and friendships save the day.

Rating: 3.5/5

Expendables

Expendables is a story of a man who wishes to free a revolutionary fighter in another country.

Using well-known actors as Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, and Jason Statham among others, its box office success is undeniable.  Its special effects and actions stunts are competitive, and its script is realistic.

However, undeniably, films produced nowadays trivialize violence and its effects over the unsuspecting viewers.   The values of justice and friendship are laid in the background.   It may well signal the beginning of the death of the audience's moral sensibilities in watching these high-level action packed films.

Rating: 2.5/5

Inception

Inception is a film about a man who engages in entering into other people's dreams and altering their personality.

With the advent of digital technology anything is possible under the sun.  Where will these digital technologies lead us to?  In this movie dreams and realities are intermingled.  All through the power of digital technology!

In the world of fantasy where the subconscious rules and the imaginations run wild, desires are limitless.  The conventions of disrupting time, space continuum to the realm of the uncertain, the wild and raw fantasies are something to be explored and played around.  It is also an area where there are no truths and morals.  But are all these right and just?  The answer is still no; that is why dreams are the most cherished possessions of an individual; no one has a right to tamper with them.

Rating: 3/5

Salt

Salt is a film about a woman of the CIA who avenges the death of her husband.

The world of action films again amazes us, much more if the action figure is a woman!  Angelina Jolie is well-established this genre.  I believe that the film is geared to produce a second part.

This is a world of spy films where the desire is to retaliate against another country.  But at the expense of using people and brainwashing them?  Sooner of later, suspicions will have to be replaced by collaboration and sharing.  The only thing left for the moment is an adherence to truth and honest living.  Vengeance is still an unacceptable alternative to life.

Rating:  2.5/5

The last airbender

The Last Airbender is a film about a young boy who starts training to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar.

The backdrop of this film may have its roots in Chinese culture.  It also espouses religious themes like reincarnation.  Having a parallel spiritual world enables one to enter into a fantasy world where not only people could communicate to them; they also have special powers of bending air, water, earth, and fire.

If the audience automatically shifts his sensibilities to another state, he might as well be enthralled with the spirit world.  But for clarification, as Christians, we don't believe in reincarnation.  Having said that, let us always be aware of the positive points of the film: the struggle for discipline and training in realizing one's vocation, the state of balance of this world, and the triumph of good over evil.  Here, the last Airbender is a powerful force for good.

Rating: 4/5

The sorcerer's apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a fantasy film about a man who trains a young boy to become Merlin the Magician's successor.

Nicholas Cage serves as a good role model for the viewing market as he challenges the young weakling Jay played by Jay Baruchel to fulfill his destiny.  Meanwhile, a fantasy film with lots of special effects never fails to take the audience to a dream world where magic is possible.  So, be free to be taken to wonderland!

The film exposes a disordered quest for power.  It is the conventional battle between good and evil for this film with an added depth - the quest to transcend from one's inflicted limitations to a state where miracles are possible.  In the end, no matter the cost, good should and will always win over evil.

Rating: 3.5/5

Eclipse

Eclipse is a film about a vampire who swears to protect his human girlfriend from the vengeance of one of his kind.

The 3rd episode of the Twilight saga, this film showed remarkable continuity from its previous episodes as if the 4 films were shot at all at the same time.  It just depends on the time of its release.  Though as work of art, we still need to justify the rationality behind a love story told from the point of view of a vampire and a werewolf.   It is the actors / actresses that are the film's main asset as the audience keep abreast of what would possibly happen with this love triangle.  The fourth episode may be the greatest crowd drawer of all.

This may be a love story, but the idea of selling one's soul just to be one with the dead may be the very reason why this film is repulsive.  Moreover, a passion in its extremist form as symbolized by a werewolf is equally revolting as well.  Most repulsive of all is the female character who compromises all her worth, soul and spirit just to be drawn to either extreme.  In the end, all these characters may not be worth emulating at all.  Take care not to compromise those moral values for the sake of an immature love.

Rating: 2.5/5

Knight and Day

Knight and Day is a story of a woman whose peaceful life is disturbed tremendously by a mystery man and wants to know who he is.

This action film and love story combined qualifies only as an entertainment film that doesn't need much thinking about.  It may be set in some exotic country but it failed to give enough substance toward a credible plot.

Could acts of violence be justified under any circumstance?  Probably, but only in the act of self-defense.  But to make this the very theme of the movie and to orient an innocent into this world is something else.In this world only the strong and powerful survives.  Enjoy the movie only because of its entertainment value.

Rating: 2.5/5

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is a film about a set of toys well-loved in the past but may have to be given away.

This seemingly predictable film ended up not predictable at all; in fact it is enjoyable and touching.  The script is fast-paced with a lot of exciting scenes; it also has some dramatic elements. 

Toy story always seeks to bring inanimate objects to life; that's where the excitement begins.  Memories cannot be buried in the past; they have a way of bringing themselves in the present and they they give inspiration to the future.  Value what you have.  For you may not have the same thing tomorrow.

Rating: 4.5/5

Letters to Juliet

Letters to Juliet is a story about a woman who assists another woman in search of her lost love.

The story seems credible, easy to understand, and inspiring.  It highlights the beauty of a country other than the United States.  It is generally entertaining.

With love all things are possible; what was possible in the past may also be possible in the present and in the future.  True enough, love is eternally new.

Rating: 3.5/5

The A-team

The A-team is a film about the U.S. rangers who are out to do impossible missions and come out alive!

Of course, being a remake of the of a popular TV series of the same title, this film delivers a lot of hot actions and digital animation.  The script does not call for any depth; yet it satisfies audience curiosity of a credible plot.  Overall, this film is entertaining.

The A-team can be considered a remnant of the American superhero mentality where characters get bruised but don't die from a great fall or from the bullet of a gun.

Secondly,  it maybe giving a skewed message of embracing violence as better alternative than peace and non-violence.  But can a show of force be justified under any circumstance?  In this paradigm, a sense of moral upbringing of persons may be irrelevant; only power rules.  The audience should be aware of the message this film brings to them.

Rating: 3/5

Killers

Killers is a film about an assassin who wants to starts life anew with the woman of his dreams but ends up dragging her in the dark secrets of his past.

The twists in the story seems to be so zany it's believable and entertaining.  It just seemed that Ashton Kutcher is playing the role of a teenage heartthrob rather than an action star.  Nevertheless, the characters generally are apt for their job to bring the film to the level of comedy.

Beyond the zany plot lies a simple reality: Crime doesn't pay.  But there's something much more to it: Love conquers all.  Finally, give a person a chance to change.

Rating: 3.5/5

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia is a story of a street boy - turned prince who discovers the power of the magic dagger and protects it from getting into the wrong hands.

While it may be true other actors would play Dastan's role better than Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia still merits joining the high-budgeted computer-animated action-adventure films.  The script is also compelling; there is sense in joining the characters' quest to protect the dagger at all costs.

In real life, we may never turn back the hands of time; that is why prudence and the wisdom of the ages count a lot in making wise decisions.   We may also use the present to undo the harmful things we've done in the past and the future to instill a ray of hope the we can do something to change this world for good.

Rating: 4/5

Shrek Forever After

Shrek Forever After is a film about an ogre who wants his life without his back.

The challenge to sequels is to put in something new without sacrificing the formula of success of the past.  Shrek is subject to the extremist criticisms and watchful eyes.  For this writer, the plus factors are its script, storyline, and more detailed animation, rendering it 3D.  Facial expressions are more pronounced; thus giving it that realistic feel among the audience.

If given the chance to go back to the past, would you have gone through the whole process of relationship?  The answer is a great "Yes!"  The only problem is that love is not automatic; you have to go through the rigors of falling in love again, asking and receiving it from the one you love.  This is the core of Shrek's story.  There are no regrets about it, "I would fall in love with you all over again."

Rating: 4/5

KIck-Ass

Kick-Ass is a story about a boy who wants to be a superhero but ends up in a super-messy situation.

An apocalyptic film that focuses on destruction of the present paradigm, its language eventually demythologizes the sensationalized, dazzling world of superheroes.  Actually, this film has something it needs to deliver its message in a very compelling way.

Although Kick-Ass is an eye-opener to people who are so enamored with the fictionalized world of superheroes, it may also have created its own destructive world - where children are abused and exposed to violence, where brutality has its place in the world, and where human dignity is relegated to zero level.  True, anything is possible nowadays, but not at the expense of human dignity.  This film is not EVER recommended for the youth; nor it is for people who simply seek to be entertained.  It contains a huge degree of violence, physical, psychological, and moral.

Rating: 1.5/5

Robin Hood (2010)

Robin Hood is a film about an outlaw and how he came to be one.

The script was well-written; the special effects were seamless; the whole story was engaging. The challenge is to bring out a legend to visual imagery. Now it is not important whether a story is fact or fiction; more important is the meaning they give to the audience watching the film and the social identity it tries to create.

Robin Hood is not just about a legendary figure robbing the rich to give to the poor. It is a story about gallantry, integrity, honesty, and nobility. The only conflict is still the age-old question of justifying thievery because of corruption, injustice, or social imbalance. Only a discerning audience would be able to judge whether in the gamut of human realities, a moral action is justified. In the case of Robin Hood, it may seem so.

Rating: 3/5

Ironman 2

Ironman 2 is a film about a man who, in possessing an iron suit, is the subject of threats from his competitors.

Hollywood cinema has never failed to unleash its creativity in digital animation to tickle the audience.  It is more imaginative, more fantastic than real live drama of human characters.  It visualizes anything the mind can think of.  So, everyone's asking, "After digital animation, what's next?"

Can weapons of destruction be used to maintain peace?  The film seems to be telling us that it is so.  But this kind of outlook further propagates violence and power through arms.  In this case, you are relying on a Superhero and place your whole life to trust him to take of you.  We just want to bring out the fact that it takes the whole population to bring the world at peace through dialogue and understanding.  Unless this is so, just enjoy the film for its entertainment value.

Rating: 3/5